US5279576A - Medication vial adapter - Google Patents

Abstract

An adapter for interfacing a needle-less syringe with a medication vial is disclosed. The adapter has a body and a detachable means for sealably receiving the inlet of the syringe at one end. The detachable means is substantially centered about the body and has a central bore fluidically connecting the adapter with the syringe. Extending substantially perpendicular to the body and opposite to the detachable means is a piercing means which is substantially elongated in shape. The piercing means has a longitudinal axis with a spike bore extending along the longitudinal axis fluidically connecting the central bore with the spike bore. An adapter inlet is positioned along the longitudinal axis fluidically connecting to the spike bore, at a distance such that the distance between the inlet and the body is greater than the thickness of the cap of the medicine vial. At least two resilient permanent attachment means extend from the body substantially in the same direction as the piercing means with each limb having a length less than that of the piercing means. Angled foot members are attached to the distal ends of each of the limbs with each of the foot members having guide means extending inward and upward from the limb towards the piercing means, and permanent attachment hook means on the end opposite the guide means.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an adapter which locks onto a medication vial (MV) and provides an interface between the medication vial (MV) and a needle-less syringe to permit filling the syringe with medication inside of the MV without the use of a needle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With the increased concern about the possibility of contracting blood borne diseases, such as AIDS and hepatitis, from accidental, self-inflicted, needle stick injuries with a possibly contaminated needle, the health care industry is presently concentrating on minimizing, or eliminating, the use of needles wherever possible. The FDA has urged health care workers to avoid re-capping of needles after using them for intravenous (IV) and intramuscular injections. One solution to avoiding re-capping needles after using them for IV injections is to use a needle-less IV injection port. The use of needle-less IV injection ports has become more widespread over the past few years. One complaint, however, when using a needle-less IV injection port is that one must still use a needle to fill the syringe, before it can be used with the needle-less IV injection port. A needle used to fill a syringe is usually not infectious, but the use of a needle here, does expose a health care worker to a potential needle stick, and does add the extra cost of a needle. One way to avoid this potential needle-stick, and fill a syringe without the use of a needle, is to use a medication vial (MV) adapter.

There are a few special devices presently described which do permit filling syringes without the use of needles (Froning et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,505,709, Smith et al., No. 4,650,475, and Schroeder, No. 5,035,689). There are some devices that have means for affixing themselves to a medication vial (Forman et al., No. 4,759,756, Gilbert et al., No. 4,969,883, and Holtz, No. 4,944,736). These devices and the methods used to attach them to a standard MV (Holtz, Froning et al., Smith et al., Forman et al., Schroeder) are somewhat cumbersome. Their design makes them hard to attach their respective device to the MV, and this difficulty in attaching them to the MV can easily lead to contamination of the device, with loss of sterility of the device, loss of sterility of the MV, and loss of sterility of the medication contained inside of the MV.

Other examples of related art in this field are shown in Smith, U.S. Pat. No. 4,230,112, Parsons, U.S. Pat. No. 4,913,699, and Curley et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,328,802.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an improved medication vial (MV) adapter that locks onto a standard MV at one end, and interfaces with a standard needle-less syringe at the opposite end, to permit filling a syringe with medication, without the use of a needle, in a more sterile, and more efficient manner. The adapter has a body with a detachable means on one end, and a locking and piercing means on the opposite end. The detachable means is for sealably connecting to the inlet of a needle-less syringe and is centered substantially on the body, and has a central bore which fluidically connects the adapter with the syringe. The piercing means, for piercing the cap of the medication vial, is substantially elongated in shape and has a longitudinal axis with a spike bore extending along the longitudinal axis, fluidically connecting the central bore to the spike bore. An adapter inlet is positioned along the longitudinal axis at a distance such that the distance between the inlet and the body is only slightly greater than the thickness of the cap of the medication vial. At least two resilient locking attachment limbs extend from the body substantially in the same direction as the piercing means with each limb having a length substantially less than that of the piercing means. Angled foot pieces are attached to the distal ends of each of the resilient limbs. Each of the angled foot pieces has an inward and upward extending guiding ramp portion on the outer, lower end, and a hook portion on the opposite, inner, upper end.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an oblique view of one embodiment of the invention with a standard type syringe attached to the outlet end, and a standard type medication vial (MV) attached to the inlet end. The MV is affixed to the improved MV adapter of the present invention by a spike end and resilient attachment means.

FIG. 2 is an oblique view of one embodiment of the MV adapter of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the prior art unassembled standard MV showing the rubber sealing stopper fitting over the mouth of the standard MV, after the MV has been filled with medication, and before the rubber sealing stopper has been permanently attached to the glass vial by a crimped metal band.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the prior art fully assembled top of a standard MV showing the exposed portion of the rubber sealing stopper as accessed through the opening in the metal band.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a fully assembled prior art standard MV with the metal band affixing the rubber sealing stopper onto the glass mouth of the MV, showing the neck and cylindrical body portions of the MV.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the prior art metal band as it appears after it has been placed over the rubber sealing stopper and the glass mouth of the standard MV, and has been crimped over the lower edge of the glass mouth to affix the rubber sealing stopper onto the MV and form a hermetic seal.

FIG. 7 is a side view of one embodiment of the invention, showing the reusable sterile cover cap and the medication flow path through the syringe end, the flange, the spike end, and the fluid entry side hole, or side holes, in the spike end.

FIG. 8 is a side view of another embodiment of the invention, showing the presence of standard, prior art, luer locking lugs on the syringe end.

FIG. 9 is a side view of another embodiment of the invention, showing the device built as two mating components which functions similar to the embodiments built as one unit.

FIG. 10 is a top view of the invention without the sterile, reusable cover cap, showing the flow channel in the syringe end, and a top view of the resilient attachment means.

FIG. 11 is a side view of one embodiment of the invention showing its locked-on position when affixed to the standard medication vial.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The reference numbers used in the descriptions that follow refer to features of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 through 11.

The present invention of "an improved medication vial adapter" is used with a hermetically sealed medication vial (MV) 13 of standard type and shape. The MV 13 is typically made of transparent glass or plastic, and includes amouth 19 with astopper 20 of rubber or elastomer type material mounted thereupon bymetal band 21. Theglass mouth 19 of theMV 13 narrows down to aneck 26 and then broadens out again to acylindrical part 29 which contains the sterile medication. Ametal band 21 is mounted about themouth 19, retaining the rubber orelastomer stopper 20 to the top of theMV 13 and forms part of the top cover of theMV 13. Themetal band 21 has acentral opening 25 on its top surface which exposes the access site of the rubber orelastomer stopper 20 as it is bound by themetal band 21 to the glass mouth for piercing. The center of the rubber or elastomer stopper 20 exposed in the center opening 25 ofmetal band 21 serves as an access site to the sterile medication contained inside the MV.

Ajunction 27 is formed where the edge of themetal band 21 is crimped, and meets the glass of the bottom side of themouth 19 near theneck 26 of the MV. The rubber orelastomer stopper 20 is self-sealing when a piercing device has been inserted through it and also when the piercing device is removed from it, provided that the diameter of the piercing device was not too large. In addition themetal band 21 affixing the rubber or elastomer stopper 20 to themouth 19 has a height orthickness 23.

The improved medication vial adapter of thepresent invention 30 consists of asyringe attaching end 1, aflange 2, at least tworesilient attachment limbs 3 and 3a, and apiercing spike end 4 with a central bore 7.Syringe attaching end 1 has acentral bore 10, which extends through theflange 2, and communicates with the central bore 7 of thepiercing spike end 4.

Syringe end 1 may or may not contain luer locking lugs 11 (shown in FIG. 8) depending on which embodiment is presented. When not being used,syringe end 1 is covered with a removable and re-usable sterile hermeticsealing cover cap 14.Cover cap 14 preserves sterility of thesyringe end 1 and the medication contained within the attachedstandard MV 13.Cover cap 14 also prevents leakage of medication from inside of thestandard MV 13 when thestandard MV 13 is placed on its side with the improvedMV adapter 30 of the present invention attached.

Thespike end 4 has a sharppointed tip 9, a central bore 7, and a fluid entry side hole, or side holes 8, depending upon which embodiment of the improvedMV adapter 20 of the present invention is presented.

The tworesilient attachment limbs 3 and 3a of the improvedMV adapter 30 of the present invention are similar in design, but are set onflange 2 as mirror images of each other. The free ends ofresilient attachment limbs 3 and 3a terminate in anangled foot piece 12. Eachangled foot piece 12 of theimproved MV adapter 30 of the present invention is angled upward, and points inward, like sides of an inverted funnel, and has ahook portion 5 on the inner, upper end, and a guidingramp portion 6 on the outer, lower, end.

The distance between theresilient attachment limbs 3 and 3a of theimproved MV adapter 30 of the present invention is substantially equal to the diameter 22 of themetal top 21 of thestandard medication vial 13. The vertical distance between thelower side 17 of theflange 2 and theupper tip 18 ofhook portion 5, ofangled foot piece 12, ofresilient attachment limbs 3 and 3a of theimproved MV adapter 30 of the present invention, in closest proximity to thelower side 17 offlange 2, is equal to theheight 23 of themetal top 21 of thestandard medication vial 13.

The piercingspike end 4 of theimproved MV adapter 30 of the present invention is formed in the radial center of thelower side 17 of theflange 2. Thehollow syringe end 1 of theimproved MV adapter 30 of the present invention is formed at the radial center of thetop surface 28 of theflange 2 opposite thespike end 4. There is a central fluid flow channel 7 which begins in thespike end 4 at fluid entry side hole (or holes) 8 and passes through the radial center offlange 2, to communicate with thecentral flow channel 10 insyringe end 1.

The opening hole (or holes) 8 of the medication fluid flow channel 7 in thespike end 4 of theimproved MV adapter 30 of the present invention is placed at the level where the maximum amount of medication can be removed from thestandard medication vial 13 when theimproved MV adapter 30 is attached to thestandard MV 13 by the attachment means 3 and 3a. Thus, the distance between the opening hole (or holes) 8 of the flow channel 7 in thespike end 4 and thelower side 17 offlange 2 of theimproved MV adapter 30 of the present invention is greater than the combined thickness of the rubber orelastomer stopper 20 and the thickness of the top wall of themetal top 21. In the preferred embodiment, the distance is only slightly greater. The diameter of the bore of the central flow channel 7 through 10 varies dependent upon the diameter of the part of theimproved MV adapter 30 of the present invention that it is passing through, so that the bore is always maximum to give the best combination of maximum fluid flow rate and tubular wall strength.

Thesyringe attaching end 1 of the improved MV adapter of thepresent invention 30 may or may not contain luer locking lugs 11. In the preferred embodiment of theimproved MV adapter 30 the luer locking lugs 11 are absent. Absence of the luer locking lugs 11 makes using theimproved MV adapter 30 faster and more efficient. Without the presence of luer locking lugs 11,needle-less syringes 15 can be quickly pushed onto, and pulled off of, thesyringe end 1 as they are being filled with medication without the use of a needle. With the absence of the luer locking lugs 11, it is not necessary to use the more time consuming, less efficient, method of screwing and locking theempty syringe 15 onto, and then unscrewing and unlocking the medication filledsyringe 15 from the attachingend 1 of theimproved MV adapter 30 of the present invention.

Theflange 2 of theimproved MV adapter 30 is disk shaped. With the resilient attachment means 3 and 3a, theimproved MV adapter 30 of the present invention may be made as one piece or as two separate mating pieces. Whether it is made as one piece, or two separate mating pieces, theimproved MV adapter 30 will function the same. Once theimproved MV adapter 30 has been affixed to thestandard MV 13, theflange 2 protectively shields the top of thestandard MV 13 from any spilled liquids and particulate matter falling onto theflange 2. In this manner,flange 2 helps maintain sterility of the medication inside of theMV 13. The removable andre-usable cover cap 14 forms a hermetic seal with, and protects thesyringe end 1 of theimproved MV adapter 30 and the MV contents from contamination of sterility. When filling asyringe 15, there-usable cap 14 is removed and laid aside in a sterile manner. When thesyringe 15 has been filled and removed from theimproved MV adapter 30, thecover cap 14 is replaced over the syringe end in a sterile manner.

The distance between the twoupper tips 18 ofhook portions 5 of theangled foot pieces 12 of theresilient attachment limbs 3 and 3a of theimproved MV adapter 30 of the present invention is shorter than the diameter 22 of themetal top 21 and is equal to or slightly shorter than the diameter across theglass neck 26. The space enclosed by thelower edges 17 of theflange 2, the inner facing edges 16 of theresilient attachment limbs 3 and 3a, and theupper tip 18 ofhook portions 5 of theimproved MV adapter 30 is nearly the same size as the side dimensions of themetal top 21 of theMV 13 that theimproved MV adapter 30 of the present invention attaches to. The fairly close tolerances between these contacting surfaces provides a firm locking attachment of theimproved MV adapter 30 to thestandard MV 13.

The piercingspike 4, with its sharppointed spike tip 9, is longer thanresilient members 3 and 3a, with their attachedfoot pieces 12 and theirhook portion 5, and guidingramp portion 6. Because the sharppointed spike tip 9 of the piercingspike 4 extends beyond the level of the resilient attachment limbs (3, 3a, 5 and 6), when theimproved MV adapter 30 of the present invention is inserted into the rubber orelastomer stopper 20 exposed by thecenter hole 25 in themetal top 21 of thestandard MV 13, the sharppointed spike tip 9, of the piercingspike 4, engages and pierces the rubber orelastomer stopper 20 of thestandard MV 13 first. This initial piercing of the rubber orelastomer stopper 20 by the leadingspike tip 9 of theimproved MV adapter 30 of the present invention stabilizes theimproved MV adapter 30 onto themetal top 21 before the shorter diameter between the twohook portions 5 of theangled foot pieces 12 of the resilient attachingmeans 3 and 3a encounters the larger diameter 22 of themetal band 21 on the top rim ofmetal band 21 of the top of thestandard MV 13.

When attaching theimproved MV adapter 30 of the present invention to thestandard MV 13, theMV adapter 30 will have there-usable cover cap 14 attached to thesyringe end 1. Theimproved MV adapter 30 of the present invention is held with the fingers holding onto thecover cap 14 and resting against the upperflat surface 28 offlange 2. As the fingers grip thecover cap 14 attached tosyringe end 1, and push forward against theflat surface 28 of theflange 2, the sharppointed spike tip 9 of the piercingspike 4 is placed at the exposed radial center of the self sealing rubber orelastomer stopper 20 of thestandard MV 13. As theMV adapter 30 is pushed further forward, the sharppointed spike tip 9 of the piercingspike 4 pierces the center of the self sealing rubber orelastomer stopper 20 of the top of thestandard MV 13. The entry of the sharppointed spike tip 9 of the piercingspike 4 into the rubber orelastomer sealing top 20 of thestandard MV 13 stabilizes theimproved MV adapter 30 in the center of the self sealing rubber orelastomer stopper 20 of thestandard MV 13. This prevents any tendency for theMV adapter 30 of the present invention to slip around themetal top 21 of thestandard MV 13 and become contaminated. As thespike 4 of theimproved MV adapter 30 of the present invention is pushed further into therubber stopper 20, theMV adapter 30 remains stabilized in the center of the rubber orelastomer stopper 20 of thestandard MV 13, not tending to slip off to one side and contaminate sterility of the attaching components. With further pushing forward of theimproved MV adapter 30 of the present invention into, and onto thestandard MV 13, the inverted funnel shaped guidingramp portions 6 of theangled foot piece 12 of the resilient attachment means 3 and 3a contact the diameter 22 ofmetal top 21 of thestandard MV 13 and guide it straight, in the axial direction of the piercingspike 4.

Theresilient attachment limbs 3 and 3a flex outward away from theupper corners 31 of themetal top 21 of theMV 13 because of the lateral vector force exerted on them by the pushing pressure from the outward angle of the guidingramp portion 6 of theangled foot piece 12. This outward flexing of theresilient attachment limbs 3 and 3a, caused by the lateral vector force, continues as theimproved MV adapter 30 of the present invention is pushed farther onto theMV 13, until thehook portions 5 of theangled foot pieces 12 are spread to a distance equal to the diameter 22 of themetal top 21 of thestandard MV 13.

Further pushing forward of theimproved MV adapter 30 of the present invention, with thespike end 4 advancing further into the rubber orelastomer stopper 20, with thehook portions 5 spread apart the distance equal to the diameter 22 of themetal top 21 of thestandard MV 13, causes theupper tips 18 ofhook portions 5 to resiliently slip beneath the lower edge of themetal cap 21, firmly grip, and thus permanently attach theimproved MV adapter 30 of the present invention to thestandard MV 13 with theupper tips 18 of thehook portion 5 of theangled foot pieces 12 firmly gripping thecorner junctions 27 where themetal band 21 crimp meets the underside ofglass mouth 19 near theneck 26.

Because theimproved MV adapter 30 is initially fixed to the center of therubber stopper 20 on thestandard MV 13 by the leading piercingtip 9 of piercingspike 4, there is no slipping of theimproved MV adapter 30 of the present invention on or around themetal top 21 of thestandard MV 13 as the resilient attachinglimbs 3 and 3a andangled foot pieces 12 with guidingramp portions 6 flex outward, slip over, and lock onto themetal top 21 of thestandard MV 13 by thehook portions 5 of theangled foot pieces 12. The initial fixation in the center of therubber stopper 20 of theimproved MV adapter 30 by the forward extending sharppointed tip 9 of the piercingspike 4 combined with resultant lateral vector forces on the guiding ramps 6 of theangled foot pieces 12 attached to theresilient attachment limbs 3 and 3a guiding and pushing thehook portions 5 of theangled foot pieces 12 of theresilient attachment limbs 3 and 3a onto the sides and to the undersurface of theMV 13 produces an easy, safe, accurate and sterile method to permanently attach theimproved MV adapter 30 of the present invention to astandard MV 13. Thus, when using theMV adapter 30 of the present invention, there is less chance of contaminating theMV adapter 30 itself, the rubber orelastomer stopper 20, the top of thestandard MV 13, and the sterile medication contained inside of thestandard MV 13. This represents an easier, safer, more accurate, and more sterile method of attaching a MV adapter to astandard medication vial 13.

Because the distance between thehook portions 5 of theangled foot pieces 12 at the ends ofresilient attachment limbs 3 and 3a, of theimproved MV adapter 30 is shorter than the diameter 22 of themetal top 21 of thestandard MV 13 that it is to be attached to, without the presence of the outward extending guidingramp portions 6 of theangled foot pieces 12 it will be difficult to attach such a MV adapter (such as with Holtz, Curley et al., and Forman et al.) to thestandard MV 13. An adapter without the inverted funnel design of the guidingramp portions 6 of theangled foot pieces 12, or the initial stabilization feature provided by the leading piercingspike end 4 with its sharppointed spike tip 9 being longer than theresilient attachment limbs 3 and 3a, will tend to slip to one side or slide around the top of thestandard MV 13 as one attempts to attach and affix it permanently to astandard MV 13. This instability and slipping can result in loss of sterility of the joining parts, from finger contamination or rubbing against a non-sterile portion of thestandard MV 13.

Because the sharppointed tip 9 of thespike 4 has a symmetrical conical shape instead of a slanted angular tip as in piercing needles of much of the prior art, it is easier to insert thespike 4 in the center of the rubber orelastomer sealing stopper 20 and push thespike 4 straight through without it wandering off center. Also, because the spike bore 7 communicates with the inside of thestandard MV 13 through the side hole(s) 8, there is no tendency for the spike to core or cut off a piece of the rubber orelastomer stopper 20 as it is being inserted into thestandard MV 13 as may occur with the angular end bore design of piercing needles of much of the prior art. A dislodged piece of the rubber orelastomer stopper 20 may clog the needle, drop into and contaminate the medicine inside theMV 13, or worse yet, get drawn with the medicine, into thesyringe 15 and then be injected into the blood stream of a patient.

The distance between the farthest ends of the guidingramp portions 6 of theangled foot piece 12 of the end ofresilient attachment limbs 3 and 3a is substantially greater than the diameter 22 of themetal top 21 of thestandard MV 13 to which the improved MV adapter of thepresent invention 30 is being attached to. Guidingramp portion 6 of eachangled foot piece 12 is angled upward and points inward like sides of an inverted funnel. When the upward and inwardangled foot pieces 12 with the guidingramp portions 6 and thehook portions 5 are lowered over the smaller diameter 22 of themetal top 21, the inverted funnel-shapedguiding ramp portions 6 cover beyond the full diameter 22 of theMV 13 and guide thehook portions 5 over themetal top 21 to permit them to permanently attach and lock theimproved MV adapter 30 of the present invention onto theMV 13. The lateral vector force resulting from the downward push on theangled foot pieces 12 pushes thehook portions 5 outward. The downward vector force pushes thehook portions 5 downwards past the upperouter corner 31 of themetal top 21, down the sides of themetal top 21 of thestandard MV 13, and then past the lowerouter corner 32 of themetal top 21. Theresilient members 3 and 3a bring thehook portions 5 and theirupper tip portions 18 back, under and into the lowerinner corner 27 of the top of theMV 13, where themetal top 21 of thestandard MV 13 ends at theglass neck 26 of thestandard MV 13. Thehook portions 5 now permanently lock theimproved MV adapter 30 of the present invention onto thestandard MV 13 below themetal top 21 at thepoint 27 near the point where the lower inner end of themetal top 21 and theglass neck 26 approach each other.

The final location of thehook portions 5 at thepoint 27 below themetal top 21 of thestandard MV 13 makes a permanent attachment to thestandard MV 13, the resiliency of theattachment limbs 3 and 3a prevents the improved MV adapter of the present invention from coming off of the attachedstandard MV 13 when the medication filledsyringe 15 is pulled off. The permanent attachment of theimproved MV adapter 30 of the present invention to thestandard MV 13, permits faster and more efficient filling ofsyringes 15 without the use of needles, and it helps preserve sterility of both the improved adapter of thepresent invention 30 and sterility of the contents of themedication vial 13. In contrast to using a MV adapter that does not have permanent attachment means (Smith et al., Froning et al.), when using the improved MV adapter of thepresent invention 30, one does not have to make a special effort to hold theimproved MV adapter 30 at thetop surface 28 of theflange 2 and simultaneously holdlower surface 17 of theflange 2 against the top surface of themetal top 21 of thestandard MV 13 in order to prevent the MV adapter from being pulled off with thesyringe 15 when the medication filledsyringe 15 is pulled of. The resilient attachment means 3 and 3a will hold theimproved MV adapter 30 of the present invention onto thestandard MV 13. One may now hold thestandard MV 13 at any convenient location when pulling the medication filled syringe off of the improved MV adapter of thepresent invention 30 without having concern that it will come off of thestandard MV 13 and become contaminated. In the case of an adapter without attachment means, if the adapter comes off with thesyringe 15, and it is subsequently pushed back onto thestandard MV 13, loss of sterility of both the MV adapter and the contents of the medication vial can occur.

The unique combination of the sharppointed tip 9 of the piercingspike 4 of theimproved MV adapter 30 of the present invention being longer, or extending further forward, than theresilient attachment limbs 3 and 3a, the resiliency of theattachment limbs 3 and 3a, and the design of theresilient attachment limbs 3 and 3a with their metal-top-encompassingangled foot pieces 12 with theirguiding ramp portions 6 and theirhook portions 5, permits theimproved MV adapter 30 of the present invention to be attached to astandard MV 13 in a manner which is easier, more accurate, safer, and more sterile. Once theimproved MV adapter 30 of the present invention has been permanently attached to the standard MV by this improved attachment method, it permits fillingstandard syringes 15 without the use of needles, with sterile medication from astandard MV 13, in a manner which is easier, faster, more efficient, and most importantly, more sterile.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the sole embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all variations falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (4)

We claim:

1. An adapter device for withdrawing medication from a medicine vial into a syringe without the use of a needle, the medicine vial having a permanently affixed elastomer cap having a diameter and a thickness, the syringe having an inlet, the adapter device comprising:

a body;

detachable means for sealably receiving the inlet of the syringe, said means being substantially centered on said body and having a central bore fluidically connecting said adapter device with the syringe;

means for sealably piercing the cap of the medicine vial, said piercing means extending substantially perpendicular to said body and opposite said detachable means, being substantially elongated in shape, having a longitudinal axis with a spike bore extending along the longitudinal axis fluidically connected to the central bore and having an adapter inlet, fluidically connected to the spike bore, positioned along the longitudinal axis at a distance between the inlet and said body greater than the thickness of the cap;

at least two resilient attachment limbs extending from said body substantially in the same direction as said piercing means, separated from one another by a distance equal substantially to the diameter of the cap, each of said limbs having a length less than that of said piercing means and equal substantially to the thickness of the cap; and

angled guiding foot members attached to the distal ends of each of said limbs, each of said foot members having guiding means and locking means with the locking means extending inward from said limbs towards the piercing means and towards the detachable receiving means with said locking means separated from one another by a distance less than the diameter of the cap and with the guiding means extending outward from said limbs away from the piercing means and away from the detachable receiving means, with said guiding means separated from one another by a distance greater than the diameter of the cap.

2. The adapter device recited in claim 1, further comprising a cap for removably covering said receiving means.

3. The adapter device recited in claim 1, wherein said detachable receiving means further includes luer fitting means for releasably securing the inlet of the syringe to said receiving means.

4. The adapter device recited in claim 1, wherein said piercing means is a spike.

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